As a Vikings fan living in California in the '70s, it would take until about week 10 to piece together the entire roster. Through occasional games televised in our market, and a possible TV Guide roster, I would finally get it. Today anyone can get an updated roster with the click of a mouse at any time during the season, training camp too. I can now read Minneapolis columnists in California. The Vikings were frequently on tv in the '70s, rarely in the '80s, sometimes in the '90s. Thanks to DirecTV, I have seen every game in the 21st Century. I would love to attend training camp in Mankato, but thanks to message boards and generous camp-attending fans, I feel like I'm there. In the '70s, I had never heard of Mankato.
Technology has brought the world to our homes. Our teams are so close. Vikings defensive end Brian Robison is even a friend of mine on Facebook. Some athletes have embraced technology and its connection to fans. Chad Ochocinco, in particular, is especially entertaining in this new arena. As the world is drawn in tight through advancements, some of the personal connections are lost. My wife has long been a hockey fan. She watched the Sharks grow from their first days in Daly City. She was regularly in contact with Sharks' players and even attended a fan trip to Hawaii with Jeff Friesen, Ronnie Stern, SJ Sharkie, and some of the Sharks' front office personnel. There's a closeness in the NHL that you can't find in the NFL. The spotlight is simply so bright on football. I have heard stories of the Vikings' players of the '60s and '70s tailgating with fan after games. I don't hear those stories anymore. That is not to criticize the current players. It's just that those things are no longer done. Things are no longer the same. It's interesting that as the protection has evolved for the players on the field, so too has the protection off the field. There was a time when players didn't need an agent, a publicist, a bodyguard, or a wall. The players have moved from the easily accessible leather skull-cap to the current helmet, face mask, and, for some, a dark visor. They can be just as protected off the field.
In all my years, I have rarely had any contact with celebrities in general, but football players in particular. I guess that I haven't been where they are. That has changed a bit with my attendance at the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach the last 3 years. I have encountered Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Harris Barton, Drew Brees, Herm Edwards, and Bill Belichick over those years. They have all been friendly and outgoing. I suppose they wouldn't be there if they weren't. Manning was easily the most comfortable. He's lived his entire life in the celebrity and football worlds. His father was the most prominent Saints' QB until Brees came along. Barton probably shouldn't count as a celebrity, seeing as he was an offensive tackle and all. Just kidding. The grunts on the line are as important, if not more so, than any player on the team. Future Flea Flickers will certainly dive into that. For me, the most surprising of the football personalities was Belichick. He has such an angry and annoyed presence in press conferences and on the sideline. Actually, an annoyed presence in press conferences should be expected. The media is filled with idiots. It is beyond ridiculous that Aaron Rodgers is still asked questions about Favre whenever a microphone is in place. Anyway, Belichick was extremely pleasant, even charming. I encountered Joe Montana at Great America just after he retired. He was trying to enjoy a day out with his entire family and entourage. It was readily apparent that he was not enjoying the day or the attention. Some athletes are never comfortable with their celebrity. Personally, I don't blame them. Alone time in public is near impossible for them. Many say, that is the price they pay for fame. That is true to an extent, but they still deserve some respect. Drew Brees is very engaging with fans, but I hear that you should never approach him when he's eating. Common sense should dictate that.
It's just a different day for fans these days. Technology had brought us closer to the teams we enjoy in so many ways. Yet as we have evolved, and football has grown, we seem to have lost some of the closeness.
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